Derivatives

wounding

He had a sharp and wounding tongue, was perceptive in spotting the vulnerable points of others, and from all accounts was an adept and provocative tease, capable of reducing members of his class to tears.

A 33-year-old man connected to the alleged wounding offence remained in a serious but not life-threatening condition in the Royal Bolton Hospital.

A shy, sensitive, clearly unhappy boy's troubled relationship with a domineering, thick-skinned father is captured in that single wounding chuckle.